TTD to suspend ‘Divya Darshan’ on weekends

Tuesday, June 27, 2017 Tirumala

The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) is toying with the idea of suspending ‘Divya Darshan’ tokens during the weekends and other crowded days.

Devotee are bestowed with some privileges such as assured darshan of the deity within 12 hours of availing the token. In addition to one free laddu and two laddus at a subsidized price of Rs.10 and an exclusive entry point to join the darshan lines. With these reasons in view, the number of devotees visiting had gone to 30,000 as against an average of 10,000 to 12,000 pilgrims during the previous years. Sources said that 7.85 lakh pilgrims have reached the temple on foot so far during the month, about 370 lakh pilgrims had the darshan in special entry lines.

The TTD to make a balance among diverse section of devotes is considering options like scrap the ‘Divya Darshan’ tickets and maintain only two darshan lines (paid and free) dispense with the issue of tokens during the weekends as is being done in the case of VIP darshan tickets and impose a limit in the issue of the tickets every day.